Why do vampires fear garlic? Explore a recipe from 1580.

Food & Drink · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Step back into the 16th century with Max Miller to examine a Transylvanian recipe from 1580 and investigate the historical connection between garlic and vampire folklore.

This episode of Tasting History explores the culinary and cultural links between garlic and the legends of vampires, using a recipe dating back to 1580.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Garlic's bite is a chemical weapon that only fires when you crush it
• The modern vampire is a relatively recent European invention
• Folklore vampires were bloated and ruddy; the pale, elegant version dates from 1819
• From ancient Mesopotamia to modern cinema, why does the vampire myth refuse to die?
• In this alternative history, vampires are not undead monsters but victims of a medical condition.
• Why did a bubble gum brand intentionally mimic the habit of chewing tobacco?
• Why did the iconic Flintstones Push-Up vanish from ice cream trucks in the nineties?
• How did chicken transform from an ordinary bird into America's most popular food?
• The ingenious no-churn dessert born from the Great Depression
• Why are Kinder Surprise Eggs considered contraband in the United States?
• The frozen custard phenomenon driving Midwest fast-food obsession
• Why your favorite American candy bar changes flavors across borders

More in History of food and drink · More in Food & Drink · Latest · A–Z · All topics